A new intermodal terminal is to be built at Dortmund Westfalenhütte

Off the road, onto the rails: A new terminal for combined transport (KV) is to be built in the Dortmund logistics park Westfalenhütte, which will specialize particularly in the handling of trailers. Duisport, the rail logistics specialist Captrain, and the Dortmund Hafen AG intend to establish a joint venture for the construction and operation of the terminal.

(Dortmund) The new terminal will be jointly operated by Duisburger Hafen AG and Captrain Deutschland GmbH, each holding 45 percent, and Dortmund Hafen AG with 10 percent, subject to the approval of the relevant committees and antitrust authorities.

The KV terminal will be built on a currently unused area of approximately 150,000 square meters belonging to Dortmund Eisenbahn GmbH, a subsidiary of Captrain and Dortmund Hafen AG. The future trailer terminal will include four tracks, each about 400 meters long, a portal crane, and reach stackers, as well as parking areas for several hundred trailer units. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026, with completion currently aimed for the end of 2027 at the earliest.

Currently, between 800 and 900 trucks visit the Westfalenhütte logistics park daily, where logistics centers of numerous well-known companies are located. With the new terminal, a significant portion of this traffic can be shifted to rail, consolidating trailers in combined transport (KV). This will significantly reduce traffic and environmental burdens.

The integration into the rail and inland shipping system LOG4NRW and the connection to the intermodal network of Duisburg Port further strengthen the competitiveness of the economy and industry in North Rhine-Westphalia.

“In Duisburg, we have repeatedly demonstrated over the past 25 years that we can actively shape and drive structural change,” says duisport CEO Markus Bangen. “I look forward to bringing our experience and expertise to Dortmund and to seeing our long-standing partnership and cooperation with Dortmund Hafen, as well as our collaboration with Captrain, expressed in this joint project.”

“Rail is not only the most climate-friendly but also the most efficient mode of transport for freight transport,” emphasizes Henrik Würdemann, Managing Director of the Captrain Deutschland Group. “With the planned terminal, we are jointly contributing to more efficient and sustainable logistics in the Rhine-Ruhr region, ensuring that more goods are transported by rail and alleviating the strained traffic situation.”

Cooperations bring good solutions

Bettina Brennenstuhl, board member of Dortmund Hafen AG: “I am pleased that we, as Dortmund Hafen AG, can actively shape the transport transition in Dortmund and the region together with two strong partners and contribute to climate protection through the new trailer terminal. It shows that good and future-proof solutions can be developed in our industry through such cooperations.”

Photo: © Hans Bossey / Caption: The KV terminal will be built on a currently unused area of approximately 150,000 square meters belonging to Dortmund Eisenbahn GmbH, a subsidiary of Captrain and Dortmund Hafen AG.